WHL to Nanaimo? Not so fast . . .

It sure sounds as though the WHL can forget about Nanaimo, at least it can if it is waiting for the City to build a new arena.
"There hasn't been any discussion since (May 13) regarding a multiplex," Coun. George Anderson told Ben Ingram of the Nanaimo Daily News. "I think one day we will probably get a multiplex, but at this point and time there's far bigger issues that the city needs to deal with."
Ingram’s complete story is right here.
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D Garrett Haar apparently will be joining the Medicine Hat Tigers. Haar, from Huntington Beach, Calif., has been released from the hockey program at Western Michigan University. "Garrett has not lived up to his commitment to his academics and his Bronco hockey teammates and we have decided to part ways with him," WMU head coach Andy Murray said in a news release. . . . Earlier, Murray had revealed that Haar would be ineligible to play in the first half of the 2013-14 season. . . . Haar, who was heading into his junior season, had 17 points in 58 career games with the Broncos. . . . Haar is scheduled to turn 20 on Aug. 16. His arrival could leave the Tigers with six 20-year-olds on their roster, the others being F Curtis Valk, F Boston Leier, F Dylan Bredo, F Jacob Doty and D Zach Hodder. . . . Haar was a seventh-round selection by the Washington Capitals in the NHL’s 2011 draft.
On Friday, Haar (@HaarDaddy4) tweeted: “Have decided to leave Western Michigan and go play in the WHL. Medicine Hat Tigers seem to be my destination but still not sure.” . . . After WMU issued its news release, Haar tweeted: “I did not get kicked off Western Michigan, this was my decision #layoff.” . . . Later, still, he tweeted: “Apparently I got released by western? This must have been afer I told them I was leaving #facts”
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Bill Ranford will be in attendance at the 2013 Hockey Coaches Conference in Burnaby, B.C., next month. In fact, he will be a presenter. Ranford, who played 15 NHL seasons, is the goaltending coach with the Los Angeles Kings. At the conference, he will present on ‘integrating your goaltender into team systems and tactics.’ . . . Ranford has been with the Kings since 2006, so was part of their 2012 Stanley Cup victory after which G Jonathan Quick was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.  . . . “Bill Ranford is consummate professional who has succeeded on the games biggest stages as both a player and coach,” Aaron Wilbur, The Coaches Site’s managing director, stated in a news release. “We are thrilled that he is able to return to his roots and give back to the local hockey community at this year’s conference.” . . . For more information on the 2013 Hockey Coaches Conference, click on the banner ad at the top of this page.
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Congrats to old friend Evan Hammond on being selected as the 2013 BCHL Broadcaster of the Year, as voted on by fellow broadcasters. . . . Hammond, known as Hammer by one and all, is prepping for his 10th season as the voice of the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. He now has won this award three times. . . . A native of Flin Flon, Hammond, 33, is the son of former Flin Flon Bombers G Cal Hammond, meaning he’s likely the toughest of the BCHL’s broadcasters and the best fisherman. . . . His blog, Hammer’s Bulldog Blog, is available over there on the right.
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Travis Green, now the head coach of the AHL’s Utica Comets, and Robert Esche, the Comets’ president, were teammates for two seasons with the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes. They chatted with the media on Friday and John Pitarresi of the Utica Observer-Dispatch has more right here.
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D Mackenzie Ferner, the son of Mark Ferner, a former Kamloops Blazers player and coach and a former Everett Silvertips coach, has signed to play next season with the BCHL’s West Kelowna Warriors. Mackenzie, who will turn 19 on Nov. 20, was an eighth round bantam pick by the Blazers in 2010 but no longer is on their protected list. He played last season with the junior B North Okanagan Knights in Armstrong, B.C.
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Chad Harden, who is driving in the Rangeland Derby at the Calgary Stampede, obviously knows horses. The Prince George Cougars are betting that he knows hockey players, too. That’s why Harden is on their scouting staff. . . . Scott Fisher of the Calgary Sun has more right here.
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Graham DeLaet was playing hockey in Saskatoon on Friday. And, apparently, the PGA Tour member looks pretty good with blades on his feet and a hockey stick in his hands. . . . Darren Zary of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix has more right here.
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When you go to a Major League Baseball game, do you keep score? Harvey Araton of The New York Times takes a look right here at what soon may become the lost are of keeping score.
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From Yahoo! Sports’ Sunaya Sapurji (@sunayas): “Agent Alexei Dementiev tells Russia's Championat based on his convos at the NHL draft, he expects the CHL to ban all imports in the future.”


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